CONSUMERS STRUGGLE TO FIND EPIPENS

Dawn Crisostomos 10-year-old son has life-threatening allergies to peanuts, and she usually purchases three boxes of EpiPens each year: one for home, one for school and one that he can carry with him. The EpiPens are sold in sets of two, in case one isnt enough to open the airways during an acute allergic reaction.

But when Ms. Crisostomo went to refill her sons prescription two weeks ago, her pharmacist said there was a nationwide shortage, then tore open a boxed set and offered her a single EpiPen.

He said, Im sorry, we literally only have five in stock right now, we can only give you one, said Ms. Crisostomo, of Tacoma, Wash. Its kind of scary.

On Wednesday, months after consumers around the country started reporting that they couldnt purchase EpiPens to treat severe allergic reactions, the Food and Drug Administration announced there were shortages of two brands of epinephrine auto-injectors, including EpiPens, sold by the drug company Mylan, and Adrenaclick auto-injectors, made by Impax Laboratories.

Another brand of epinephrine auto-injector, called Auvi-Q, is available, but may not be covered by some insurance policies. All these devices deliver a lifesaving dose of epinephrine, ...